CATS

Manchester Palace Theatre
10th to 21st November

*** A PURRRRRRfect musical ***

*** We had our paws in the air ***

*** The whole ensemble are the CATS whiskers ***

*** Drew McOnie’s choreography is fresh and dazzling ***

We have many memories of Cats and its numerous incarnations, from the original West End run to the recent on/off Broadway ‘The Jellicle Ball’. The show stands the test of time (45 years), and in this reboot Drew McOnie is the Director and Choreographer giving the show a good polish and shine for audiences new and old. Having had a great summer season at London’s Regents Park open air theatre the show is now on tour and playing at Manchester’s Palace Theatre until Saturday 21st November.

Drew McOnie’s choreography is fresh and dazzling. Having worked for and alongside Matthew Bourne there are positive similarities and I’m sure we will see many more wonderful productions from his own stable in the future, having already hits with ‘In the Heights’ Regent’s Park’s 2017 revival of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and with ‘Carousel’ in 2021.

CATS is different, it isn’t one story about a central character like many musicals. Instead vignettes for each cat tale allow us to explore the poetry of T. S. Eliott’s ‘Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats’. The tales are then all drawn together through dance. Andrew Lloyd Webber has written the music and also co-produced this production with lyrics by Trevor Nunn. At times the synthesise music could be a little jarring and transported you right back to the 80’s. I’m sure many would find it a cat-atrophy if this element was updated but somehow I’d like to hear it with a more modern sound. There were some great new musical arrangements though that brings the production up to date.

The whole ensemble are the CATS whiskers. We enjoyed how this production has embraced cats having regional accents. This clever move has brought even more individuality to each of the characters.

Rachel Wooding’s Grizabella, sang with emotional clarity and power and gave everything you wanted for the show-stopping ‘Memory’. We had our paws in the air for Jet Yau’s magical Mr Mistoffelees. He is an unstoppable ball of beautiful energy and a sight to behold as the original conjuring cat. Jaydon Vijn is a fun Rum Tum Tugger and was played with a Harry styles edge. A cool suave looking Kalisha Amaris plays Old Deuteronomy. Our Napoleon of crime ‘Macavity’ was played by a very slick Diante Lodge. The whole cast were lions on stage with no runts in the litter.

Set and costumes are by Sami Fendall. Almost gone are the fuzzy fury costumes with a new costume design that really celebrates the lines of the dancers. We did miss and hanker for the old 80’s CATS John Napier set design but appreciated this new simple visual that allowed the performers the space to inhabit their feline roles. These cats have the energy of young kittens and used all the space as they jump and prowls around really maximising the space.

We were thrilled to see a prop make an appearance in the second act. Skimbleshanks (Matthew Caputo) had a scenic train that he pranced around wonderfully like being on an oversized cat tree.

CATS can be cat nip for some and cat nap for others but this production has the fire needed to bring it forward and upto date for new or familiar audiences. For us it is a PURRRRRRfect musical. Catch this current talented group of Gumbie, Magical, Theatrical, Glamour, Train loving, Mischievous, Jellicle CATS before the sun comes up. Book via theatre box office, ATG tickets or below:

https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/cats/palace-theatre-manchester/